Machine for decorating sheet edges



July 21, 1953 'w. L. sos'rwlcx 5, 7

MACHINE FOR DECORATING S'IEET EDGES Filed April 6, 1950 w 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Wol loco L. Bosfwick By w nt. 1A

MENTS.

y 1953 w. L. BOSTWICK 2,645,871

MACHINE FOR DECORATING SHEET EDGES Filed April 6, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. Wallace L. Bostwick BY ,3 AGENTS.

u y 21, 1953 w. L. BOSTWICK MACHINE FOR DECORATING Sl-IEET EDGES 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 6, 1950 'INVENTOR. Wdlloce L. Bostwick AGENTS.

Patented July 21, 1953 e 2,645,871 UNITED, STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,645,871 MAC H INE FOR DECORATING SHEET EDGES corporation of Ohio, and National Publishing Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application April 6, 1950, Serial N 0. 154,370

This invention pertains to edge-gilding or-ed decoration and, moreparticularly, pertains to a machine for and materials for decorating the sheet edges of books, cards, or the like, insuch manner that the sheet edges will each present or simulate a metallic surface such, forexample, as a surface of gold, silver, aluminum, or the like.

It has been the practice to decorate sheet edges such as those of books, playing cards, or the like, by placing a plurality of book sheets or a'plurality of cards in a clamp with the edges of the plurality of such sheets or cards in substantially aligned relation. The edges of the sheets or cards were then sealed to prevent water from penetrating into the cards on later application, and the edges of the clamped sheets or cards were machinesanded on the major edge surfaces and then hand-sanded at their corners to present a relatively flat surface on each side edge of the pack formed by the clamped sheets or cards and rounded corners joining each side and/or edge. ,After sanding, any dust or loose particles, were removed from the sanded surfaces by the use of a damp cloth or sponge. A paste or filler was then applied to the edge surfaces in such manner as to fill in any cracks and to serve as an adhesive for a metal foil with which the edges were to be decorated. After the paste or filler had dried, it was customary to give the edge surfaces a few light strokes with relatively fine sandpaper to smooth down any irregularities. A size, which is a dilute water soluble adhesive, was then brushed onto the edge surfaces in a bubble-free, thin layer, after which short length unsupported leaves of decorative foil, which had been picked up by the use of the electrostatic charge in a small frame covered with a tightly stretchedsilk webbing, were applied to the edge surfaces covered with the wet size in such manner that they would overlap. After the size had dried for several hours, the edges were rubbed with a soft cloth to remove excess decorative foil, or any foil which had not adhered to the edge surfaces, and in the latter event patches were applied to defects by using the same size that had been used for applying the original metallic foil'leaf and then applying additional metallic foil. When a bright decorative surface was desired, andbefore the size had completely dried, it was necessary to burnish the decorated surface to produce a lustrous, bright appearance. This'operation required the services of a highly skilled workman who could ascertain the proper time at which to carry outv the burnishing operation- If the size were to dry and burnishing were attempted, the decorative material would flake off, and if burnishin were attempted when the size were too wet the decorative material would be rubbedoff bythe '7 Claims. (01.. 41-7) 2 I burnishing tool. After the size used in app y n the patches had sufliciently dried, the sheets 0! cards were separated one from the other by subjecting them to a rifiling action, the metallic foil splitting along lines defined by each sheet or card edge in a manner to leave each sheet or card ed covered with the decorative foil so that when the sheets or cards were reassembled a continuous, or simulated continuous, metallic surface would be presented.

From the foregoing it should be apparent that the decoration of the edges of playing cards or book sheets with a metallic foil has been an ex-'- pensive and time-consuming procedure, and itis one object of this invention to provide a machine and a material which is utilized by said machine, for decorating the edges of book sheets, playin cards, or the like, in a relatively simple and substantially inexpensive manner such as to eliminate the expensive and time-consuming operations heretofore necessary. g

It is another object of this invention toprovide a machine whereby the edges of book sheets, playing cards, or the like, may be decorated by the use of a carrier-backed decorative foil. 1

It is stillanother object of thisinvention to provide a carrier-backed decorative foil adaptable to the decoration of the edges of book sheets,

playing cards, or the like. I

It is a further object of this invention to provide a machine,-and a material which maybe used in said machine, for decorating the edges of book sheets, playing cards, or the like, in a relatively simple and inexpensive manner and which will permit the decoration of at "least one entire side edge of a group of book sheets, playing cards, or-the like, assembled en masse, all in one operation.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a machine, and a material which may b used by said machine, for'decorating the edges of book sheets, playing cards, or the like, in which a bright, lustrous finish may be obtained on said decorated edges without the necessity of a bur.-

.nishing operation;

- Various other objects and advantageous features of the invention may be had from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts, and wherein:

I g. 1 is a perspective View of the device Fig.2 is a side elevation view of a part of the device showninFig.1; Fig. 3 is a side elevation view of the portion .of zhe device shown inFig. 2, but in a lowered posiion; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a modificdlvor individual parts being exaggerated in size for put-- a poses of clarity.

Referring to the drawings, and mo'rep articu larly to Fig. 1, l represents a platform orbed plate upon which the greater portion of this'de+ vice is mounted. The machine, constituting the subject matter of this invention, may be considered as comprising three portions. The sheet or card holding mechanism is indicated generally at H, while the sheet or card edge preparing.

mechanism is indicated generally at l'2. The part 4 shaft 44 which is supported by member 45. Rigidly secured to gear 43, as by a welded joint 46, is member 41 which is provided with a slot 48. Positioned in slot 48 is pin 59 which is connected to bifurcated member 5|. Member 5| is the piston rod of a piston (not shown) which is located within air cylinder 52. Cylinder 52 is supported by straps 53-53 which are attached to platform I0. Air cylinder 52, as shown, has

of the machine that is used to apply the decora tive material to the sheet or card edges is indicated generally at I3. 8 l l The card or sheet edge holding mechanism, indicated generally at H, comprises a number of parts. |4-|4 are supports each of which has one of shafts l5l5 rotatably mounted thereon. Each of these shafts is provided with one of gears |6-| 6, fixedly secured thereto, and which in turn are actuated by gears fixedly secured to shaft |8. Shaft I8 is supported by portions of members |4-|4 which extend below platform I. One of the gears '|-|l may cooperate with another gear l9, fixedly secured to shaft which is connected to an electric motor such as shown at 2|. Each of shafts l5l5 are provided with one of two flat sheet or card holders 23-23 which are positioned in parallel disposed planes. Shafts |6|5 are coaxial. I 6-I 5 may be slidably mounted in their supports |4|4. Attached to at least one of shafts l5l5 is anair cylinder '25, which may be connected to a source of compressed air (not shown) by means of fittings 26-26. Shaft |8 may be slidably positioned in its supports to enable gears |6-|6 and gears to be disengaged- Of course,

Either or both of shafts a clutch may be interposed in the gear train between the electric motor 2| and the gear I9.

The motor 2| may be replaced by some other source of power other than an electric motor as has been shown, and other gearing to reduce the speed, or to vary the speed may be interposed in the gear train and is to be considered as coming within the scope of this invention. Theelectric motor 2| may be mounted on the bed plate |8 or in any convenient manner, as is well-known to those skilled in the art. I Referring now more particularly to Fig.- 1 and 4, shaft 29 is rotatably mounted on supports 28-28. Shaft 29 may have associated therewith an electric motor 30, which drives a fan (not shown) located in the vacuum cleaner 3|. Vacuum cleaner 3| discharges through opening 32 and through suitable flexible piping (not shown). The suction side of the vacuum cleaner 3| is connected to conduit 33 which may also serve as a support for electric motor 35 and shaft 36, which is rotatably mounted thereon'at the upper extremity thereof. Electric motor 35 may be used to drive shaft 36 through sprocket wheels 31-31 and chain 38. One'of the sprocket wheels 31-31 is mounted on shaft 39' of the electric motor 35, while the other of the sprocket wheels 31-31 is rigidly secured to shaft 36. Fixedly positioned on shaft 36 is a sanding disc or drum. 40 provided with a sanding surface 4|.

Rigidly securedto member 33 and fixedly positioned on shaft 29 is a gear member 42',which cooperates with gear 43. Gear 43 is positioned on associated therewith a solenoid operated valve 55, provided with suitable electrical and air connections (not shown). This valve merely permit-s air to be introduced at either end of the cylinder 52, and is a device well-known to those skilled in the art.

In the particular embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 4, instead of a sander, there is provided on shaft 36 a milling-head cutter 51. Also provided on shaft 36 is a cam follower 58. Cam follower 58 is adapted to cooperate with cam 69 positioned on gear l6.

Fig. 4 shows a deck of playing cards 60 positioned between playing card holding members 23-23. Jig 6|, used initially to align the card edges, is also shown.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 1, 2, and 3, 62-62 are supports attached to bed plate It) in which shaft 63 is rotatably mounted.

Rigidly secured to shaft 63 are spaced supporting members 64-64. At the upper extremity of members 64-64 and rotatably mounted on these members is a shaft 65. Shaft 66 is also rotatably mounted on these two members, but spaced somewhat from the top of members 64-64. Mounted on shaft 66 is drum 61, which is provided with two annular concentric spaced slip rings 68-68.

Slip rings 68-68 are connected to heating ele ments within the drum 61 (not shown). It is preferred that the peripheral portion of drum 61 be made of a material capable of conducting heat from the heating elements to the surface of the drum, and yet be sufliciently resilient to insure continuous contact of a surface to be decorated with a decorative strip when said strip is positioned between said surface and said drum. Such a resilient, heat conducting material is silicone rubber.

Rigidly secured to members 64-64 and extending at approximately right angles thereto are members 69-69. At the outer extremity of members 69-69 is a rotatably mounted shaft 19 similar to shaft 65. Rigidly secured to members 64-64, and positioned at approximately right angles thereto, are members Rotatably mounted at one end of these members ll-1| is shaft 12, on which is mounted roller 13. Shaft 12 may be provided with a ratchet wheel 14 and a solenoid I08 which actuates ratchet pawl 15. Rotatably mounted at the other extremities of members 1 is shaft 16, on which is positioned roller 11. Shaft 16 is provided with a sprocket 18 and shaft 66 is provided with a sprocket 19. These sprocket wheels are connected by means of sprocket chain 88.

Rotatably mounted on shaft 63 but positioned between members 64-64 are members 82-82, which have shaft 83 rotatably mounted at their upper extremity. Positioned on shaft 63 is roller 84. Shaft 83 may be provided with a ratchet wheel 85 and a ratchet pawl 86. A spring 81, under tension, is fixedly connected to one or both members 64-64 and one or both members 82-82.

Rigidly secured to at least one of members 64-64 and fixedly secured to shaft 63 is gear 88, which cooperates with gear 89. Gear 89 is fixedly attached to shaft 90 which is rotatably mounted in support 9| onbed plate I0. Fixedly secured to shaft 90 and gear 89 as by a welded joint 92 is a member 93 which is provided with a slot 94 at its lower extremity. Positioned within the slot 94 is a pin 95 which is connected to a bifurcated piston rod 96. Piston rod 96 is attached to a piston (not shown) which is positioned in air cylinder 91. Air cylinder 31 is supported by straps 98-90 which are attached to bed plate I0. This air cylinder 91 has associated therewith solenoid operated valve 99. similar to valve 55.

A source of current I is supplied to slip rings 6868, while a source of current I03 is supplied to solenoid I08.

A carrier-backed decorative strip I02 is shown positioned on the device. Shaft 65 and roller 'I'l are sopositioned that strip I02 is out of contact with the surface of roller 61 when the portion of the device indicated generally at I3 is in the raised position. (See Fig. 2)

Referring more particularly to Fig. 5, this same carrier-backed decorative strip is shown therein. I04 represents a carrier-backing such as cellophane or cellulose acetate. I05 represents the release material. Alkali-halide salts such as potassium bromide (KBr), potassium iodide (KI), and others may be used therefor. Waxes also are good release materials. I06 represents the decorative material, such as gold, aluminum, brass, or some other metal. I01 represents a strata of heat activatable adhesive, such as an adhesive of the polyamide type.

While the following description will illustrate the use of this device in the edge decoration of playing cards, it is to be understood that the device is equally adaptable to the edge decoration of book sheets or playing cards. Furthermore, it is to be understood that a plurality of book sheets or playing cards, in excess of the number to be found in a deck of cards or a single book can be accommodated in this .machine.

The operation of this device is as follows: Utilizing the jig 6|, playing cards are placed between members 2323. Air is then admitted to the cylinder 25 to cause shaft I5 to slide toward the other shaft I5. The, plurality of playing cards will thus be gripped between the members 2323 and relative motion of the playing cards will be prevented. The jig 6| is then removed, gears |'l|| are meshed with gears I6I6 and the electric motor 2| is started. Obviously, if a clutch is employed between the prime mover and gear I9, the gears I'|-I| may remain meshed with gears I6I6 at all times. Actually the speed of rotation of the gears |6I6 and I'|-I'I is so low that gears I'|-'I'| may be meshed with gears I6|6 while gears Il l I are being rotated. While the speed of rotation is not critical, excellent edge' decoration of playing cards has been achieved by rotation at five revolutions per minute. Thereafter, while the playing cards held between members 23-23 are being rotated, cylinder 52 is actuated by admitting air to the left end thereof. Air admitted to cylinder 52 causes piston rod 5| to move to the right whereby the sanding drum is lowered into contact with the edges of the playing cards.

The electric motor 35 is actuated prior to lowering the sanding device into contact with the card edges. The sandpaper surface 4| of the rotatingsanding drum 40 is then brought into contact with the rotating playing card edges held between members 23.,-23, and the surfaces formed by the edges of the playing card are thereby smoothed and consequently prepared for the decorativemateriakto be adhered thereto. 1

Inv the, embodiment shownin Fig. 4, insteadof va sanding drum there is provided a milling cutter 51. This milling cutter functions in the same manner as does the sanding drum to prepare the surfaces formed by the edges of the playing cards in order that theymay-have adhered thereto a decorative material. The mainpurposeof the sanding drum or the milling cutter is. to equalize the distance that the playing card edges extend will be withdrawn through the conduit 33;bythe action of the vacuum cleaner3| connectedthereto. When the surfaces have been properly pre;- pared, usually in one revolutionofthe playing cards, the air cylinder 52 has air introducedto the right end thereof and the air in-theother end is released to atmosphere, thereby, moving the sanding drum or the milling head cutter to an upright position. It may be, desirable to remove any remaining particles of dust from the surfaces of the card edges by hand. This may be accomplished by useof a cloth impregnated with a non-drying varnish, or similar tacky substance. Thereafter, air is admitted to cylinder 91 and the same action takesplace as in cylinder 52 with the result that the portionofthe device indicated generally at I3 is lowered until the edges of the playing cards come in contact with the carrierbacked decorative strip I02 as shown in Fig. 3. Simultaneously, the ratchet pawl 15 is disengaged fromthe ratchet wheel I4, thereby permitting strip I02 to be unwound. The weight of the assembly causes the decorative strip to contact the heated roller 61, which in turn activates 'the adhesive on the carrier-backed decorative strip, thereby causing the decorative material to adhere to the edges of the playing cards. The rotating playing cards cause the roller 61 to rotate and the strip I02 to unwind. Roller 6 l causes the rotation of roller II by means of the sprocket chain and sprocketwheels I3 and 19. One complete revolution of the playing cards held between members 2323 is all that is necessary to transfer the decorative material I06 on the carrier-backed decorative strip I02 to the surfaces of the playing cards. The carrier-backing I04, and any release material associated therewith is wound on roller 84, while the carrier-backed decorative material is unwound from roller 13, which is a feed roller. It is, of course,necessary to have the peripheral speed of roller 61 and roller 11 the same, in order to prevent any undue strain on the carrier-backed decorative strip I02. This is accomplished by the size of sprocket wheels 10 and 19. The spring 81 allows rollers TI and 84 to be urged toward each other, thereby insuring that the remainder of the carrier-backed decora-, tive strip, which isthe carrier backing I04, is tightly wound on roller 04. Thereaften'thepor tion of the device indicated generally "at I3 is raised, and the edge decorated cards may be removed from members 2323. At the same instant that portion I3 starts to rise, pawl l5 again.

contacts ratchet wheel ",thereby preventing the decorative strip I02 on roller 13 from unwinding.

In order that the decorative material may be readily applied to the prepared surface formed by the sheet edges or card edges contained between members 23-23, the carried-backed decorative strip I02 is so positioned on rollers I3, 11, and 84 that the carrier-backing is on the side toward the heated roller 61. Therefore, at the point of contact of the heater roller 61 and the card edges the carrier-backing will be separated from the adhesive and the decorative material because the adhesive will be activated by the heated roller and a continuous film of decorative material will thereby be adhered to the surface of the edges of the playing cards. The remaining carrier-backing strip with the small amount of release material associated therewith will then be wound on roller 84. It is preferable, but not'necessary, to have the surface of the roller 11 formed from a material having a high coeflicient of friction, such as rubber, sandpaper, or the like, thereby preventing the formation of a loosely wound roll of the used carrier-backing materials.

It is deemed obvious to one skilled in the art that rollers I3, 11 and 84 need not be positioned on the machine as has been shown. Much larger supply rollers, similar to roller 13, and much larger rewind rollers, similar to rollers 1! and 84, may be positioned with compensating rollers, etc., to insure a steady supply of carrier-backed decorative film at the tangential point of contact of the heated roller 61 and the surface formed by the card edges held between members 23-23.

Furthermore, while air has been employed as the means for raising and lowering the members indicated at I2 and I3 and for urging members 23-23 toward each other, it is readily conceivable that other means may be employed and should be considered as coming within the scope of this invention. For instance, solenoid actuated means or spring actuated means could be used successfully to urge members 2323 toward each other. Likewise, there are many other types of mechanical or electrical devices that might be employed to effect a raising and a lowering of the members generally indicated at I2 and I3.

Similarly, it should be perfectly obvious to one skilled in the art that the electric motor 35 may be positioned other than on the conduit 33 and with suitable linkage could be used to drive the sander 40 or the milling head cutter 51.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that there has been evolved a new and novel apparatus for decorating sheet edges. This new apparatus results in a faster, cheaper, and much more efficient method of edge-decorating sheet edges of books, cards or the like. By using this new and novel apparatus, a highly polished decorated surface may be formed on the edges of book sheets, playing cards or the like without the need of a further burnishing operation.

While this invention has been described in its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the words that have been used are words of description rather than of limitation, and that changes within the purview of the appended claims may be made without departing from the true scope and spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A sheet edge decorating device comprising: clamping means having an axis about which it rotates, and adapted to hold a plurality of sheets in side-by-side relation with the respective edges thereof in the same plane whereby to provide a plurality of surfaces made up of sheet edges; means normally urging said clamping means together; means adapted to rotate said clamping means onits axis; a heating roller; means adapted to position a carrier-backed decorative strip, having a heat activated adhesive incorporated therewith, between said surfaces and said heating roller and maintain said strip continuously in contact with said heating roller and said surfaces successively as said clamping means rotates on its axis; said heating roller contacting said decorative strip'at the place of its contact with said surfaces as said clamping means rotates; said heating roller being rotated solely by virtue of the rotation of said clamping means and theconsequent movement of said decorative strip.

2. The structure set forth in claim 1 in which the means normally urging said clamping means together is a resilient means.

3. The structure set forth in claim 1, in which the means normally urging said clamping means together, is a fluid actuated piston.

4. The structure set forth in claim 1 in which the means normally urging said clamping means together is an air actuated piston.

5. The structure set forth in claim 1, wherein said means adapted to position said carrierbacked decorative strip includes means adapted to maintain said carrier-backed decorative strip under tension.

6. The structure set forth in claim 5, wherein a separate roller is provided to maintain said carrier-backed decorative strip under tension, said separate roller being rotated by said heating roller.

'7. A sheet edge decorating device comprising: two clamping jaws having a common axis about which they rot-ate, and adapted to hold therebetween a plurality of sheets in side-by-side relation with the respective edges thereof in the same plane whereby to provide a plurality of surfaces made up of sheet edges; means adapted to urge said jaws together; means adapted to rotate said jaws on their axis; a heating roller; means adapted to position a carrier-backed decorative strip, having a heat activated adhesive incorporated therewith, between said surfaces and said heating roller, and maintain said strip continuously in contact with said heating roller and said surfaces successively, as said clamping jaws rotate on their axis; said heating roller contacting said decorative strip at the place of its contact with said surfaces as said clamping jaws rotate; said heating roller being rotated solely by virtue of the rotation of said clamping jaws and the consequent movement of said decorative strip.

WALLACE L. BOSTWICK.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 413,995 Wright Oct. 29. 1889 1,299,852 Moscini Apr. 8, 1919 1,699,957 Dunn Jan. 22, 1929 2,496,406 Patrick Feb. '7, 1950 2,501,387 Haumann Mar. 21, 1950 2,505,900 Knitter May 2, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 627,857 France June 20, 1927 

